the hint that he really should stop talking before things got worse. Lissa's anger was intensifying, muddled with embarrassment as she began to doubt herself and wonder if she had been getting too close to Adrian. The whole thing was ridiculous.
"Christian, for the love of God. If Adrian did this for anyone, it was because of me and his crazy obsession. He bragged awhile ago that he could do it, and I didn't believe it." I turned to Lissa. I needed to get her calm and diffuse those dark feelings that could cause so much trouble for her when they ran out of control. "Liss, you might not be wasted exactly, but you need to chill out for an hour before having this conversation. You're going to say something as stupid as Christian, and I'll be the one who has to deal with the mess - like always."
I'd gotten worked up and expected someone to tell me how bitchy I sounded. Instead, Lissa relaxed and offered Christian a smile. "Yeah, we should definitely talk about this later. A lot's kind of happened today."
He hesitated, then nodded. "Yeah. Sorry I jumped all over you." He returned her smile, fight patched up.
"So," Lissa asked Mia, "who have you met here?"
I stared at them in amazement, but no one seemed to notice. I'd fixed their fight, and there'd been no acknowledgment. No Thank you, Rose, for pointing out how idiotic we're being. It was bad enough I had to endure their romance day after day, with no consideration for how I felt. Now I was salvaging their relationship, and they didn't even realize it.
"I'll be right back," I said, interrupting Mia's description of some of the other teenagers here. I was afraid if I sat there, I was going to say something I'd regret or maybe break a chair. Where had this rage come from?
I went outside, hoping a gulp of cold air would calm me down. Instead, I got a face full of clove smoke.
"Don't start in about the smoking," warned Adrian. He was leaning against the building's brick wall. "You didn't have to come outside. You knew I was here."
"That's actually why I'm here. Well, that, and I felt like I was going to go crazy if I stayed inside another minute."
He tilted his head to look at my face. His eyebrows shot up. "You aren't kidding, are you? What happened? You were fine a few minutes ago."
I paced across the ground in front of him. "I don't know. I was fine. Then Christian and Lissa started having this stupid argument over you. It was weird. They were the ones who were mad - and then I ended up madder than both of them."
"Wait. They were arguing over me?"
"Yes. I just said that. Weren't you paying attention?"
"Hey, don't snap at me. I haven't done anything to you."
I crossed my arms over my chest. "Christian's jealous because you hang around Lissa so much."
"We're studying spirit," said Adrian. "He's welcome to join in."
"Yeah, well, no one ever said love was reasonable. Seeing you come back together kind of set him off. And then he got upset because you pulled rank with the queen for Lissa."
"I didn't do it for her. I did it for all of you - but, well, you especially."
I came to a halt in front of him. "I didn't believe you. That you could do it."
He grinned. "Guess you should have listened to my family history in that dream after all."
"I guess. I just thought..."
I couldn't finish. I'd thought Dimitri would be the one who came through for me, the one who - despite what he said - could make almost anything happen. But he hadn't.
"Thought what?" Adrian prompted.
"Nothing." With much effort, I managed to utter the next words. "Thank you for helping us."
"Oh my God," he said. "A kind word from Rose Hathaway. I can die a happy man."
"What are you saying? That I'm normally an ungrateful bitch?"
He just looked at me.
"Hey! Not cool."
"Maybe you could redeem yourself with a hug."
I glared.
"A small one?" he begged.
With a sigh, I walked over and put one arm around Adrian, leaning my head lightly against his arm. "Thanks, Adrian."
We stood like that for a heartbeat. I felt none of the crazy electricity or connection I did with Dimitri, but I had to admit that Lissa had been right about something. Adrian was annoying and arrogant at times, but he really wasn't the bastard I often made him out to be.
The doors